The best museums and galleries around Broadstairs, Ramsgate and Margate
There's no shortage of galleries and museums in Thanet for your hit of culture, art and history and some really idiosyncratic ideas
Whether you want to ponder a historical moment, look at contemporary art and bold ideas or enjoy irreverence, Thanet's museums and galleries have got you covered.
A string of contemporary art spaces ensure established, local and emerging contemporary artists are constantly on display, while outfits like The Crab Museum and This Museum is (Not) Obsolete bring a sense of fun and their own flair to cultural ideas.
From the Turner Contemporary through to small independently run spaces, there's a museum or gallery nearby that could make your rainy day - here's Strange Tourist's pick of the best.
This Museum is (Not) Obsolete
Nowhere else can you play a Furby. A collection of toys and old tech that have been tinkered with until they are musical instruments, this Ramsgate museum is the brain child of UK’s 2026 Eurovision entrant, Look Mum No Computer, aka Sam Battle. The musician has built a shire to obsolete technology that you can push, touch, press or bash - like a wall length synthesizer, the church organ that is actually an electronic keyboard, or even an old telephone exchange. One for folks who just can’t help pushing a button or two. Open Saturday and Sunday 1pm-4pm, 5-7 Church Hill, Ramsgate CT11 8RA; adults £7/U13£5/U3 free; this-museum-is-not-obsolete.com
Turner Contemporary
Built on the site of JMW Turner’s preferred guesthouse and with an unfettered view of the sea from the main hall, the opening of this major regional gallery in 2011 was a turning point for the town and its cultural industry. Free to visit, you’ll find exhibitions by local, British and international artists, as well as makers markets, and a programme of kids activities too. Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG; Tuesday - Sunday (summer) Wednesday - Sunday (winter) 11am-5pm; free turnercontemporary.org
The Crab Museum
Another utterly unique museum, Margate’s crab museum is one of a kind. It is a sharp, witty outfit that offers impressive insight into the lives of crabs, as well as using humour to discuss some of the big issues, like climate change and the nature of truth. Also, you'll find the Carb Museum in the loo. 9 Broad Street, Margate CT9 1EW; Friday - Sunday 11am-5pm; free crabmuseum.org
Carl Freedman
Representing the likes of Studio Lenca, Billy Childish as well as local artists such as Lindsey Mendick and Laura Foote, the gallery exhibits exceptional established contemporary artists, as well as stars on the rise. 28 Union Crescent, Margate, CT9 1NS; Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm-5pm; free; carlfreedman.com
Liminal Gallery
Small but grand, Liminal Gallery exhibits contemporary art, focussing on women artists and those from underrepresented backgrounds. The Cupboard, a gallery within a gallery within a small cupboard is a space dedicated to supporting local artists with residencies and solo exhibitions. Liminal is also the UK’s smallest bricks-and-mortar contemporary gallery. 34 Fort Hill, Margate CT9 1HD; Thursday - Saturday; 11am-4pm; liminal-gallery.com
TKE Studios
With gallery spaces and artists studios, including space for those involved in the TKE residency programme - including a performance artist in residency, TKE Studios is a place for creative play and exploration, and new work. The programming covers exhibitions, fundraising fete days, talks and workshops across visual and performing arts. Stop for a coffee and a bite to eat at The Perfect Place To Grow training cafe, housed to the back of the main galleries. 99 Victoria Road, Margate CT9 1RD; Saturday - Sunday; 12pm-5pm; traceyeminfoundation.com
Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum
Set on Manston’s RAF base, this museum does what it says on the tin. It is a collection of WWII artefacts - including the aircraft, and for the proper plane nuts, you can have a go in the museum’s plane simulator. The simulators come with a replica cockpit set up and authentic WWII controls, which you can use to take off, fly and land. The RAF Manston History Museum is just next door, for more geeking out on WWII aircraft. The Airfield, Manston Road, Ramsgate, CT12 5DF; Monday - Sunday; 10am-4pm; free; spitfiremuseum.org.uk
Powell-Cotton Museum
Kind of cool, kind of weird, kind of uncomfortable, this museum’s big stars are a collection of taxidermy animals from around the world that have been placed in large-scale dioramas depicting scenes of their natural habitats. The collection features more than 300 animals from more than 150 species, each one brought to the UK by explorer and keen hunter Percy Horace Gorgen Powell-Cotton’s expedition, who started the museum in 1896 when his collection of stuffed dead animals outgrew his home, which is now Quex House. Quex Park, Birchington-on-Sea, CT7 0BH; Friday - Sunday; 11am-4pm; powell-cottonmuseum.org
Shell Grotto
Why does this place exist? Was it an ancient temple, a secret meeting place or perhaps something made for shits and giggles by the Victorians? No one really knows for sure, but it was found by chance in 1835 and it has become one of Thanet’s much loved locations ever since. What we do know is that the shell studded underground cave is adorned with more than four million shells and is of exquisite beauty. Grotto Hill, Margate, CT9 2BU; Thursday - Sunday; 11am-4pm; adult £4.50/concession £4/U16 £2/U4 free/family £10; shellgrotto.co.uk
Margate caves
Following a dank and narrow, slightly claustrophobic descent, you are rewarded by a series of chalky chambers embellished in parts with Victorian-era graffiti - all that’s left of the old chalk mine that was created in the 1800s and then forgotten about for more than 100 years. 1 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 1FG; Friday - Sunday; 11am-5pm; adult £5/concession £4/ U16 £2.50/family £12; margatecaves.co.uk
Dickens House Museum
Found in the cottage Dickens took inspiration from for his book David Copperfield, this museum celebrates the lauded author’s connection to Broadstairs, which he visited often in the mid 1800s. The museum contains items that once belonged to the author, including his writing box and a collection of prints by his main illustrator. 2 Victoria Parade, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS; Wednesday - Sunday; 1pm-4.30pm (April 1 to November 1); adult £5/child £2.50/ concession and student £3.50/family £12.50; visitthanet.co.uk
Crampton Tower Museum
A small collection housed in the flint tower across from Broadstairs Railway Station, this museum pays tribute to locomotive and railway designer Thomas Russell Crampton. Expect to see Crampton’s drawings, models and graphics, railway records and working model railways which kids can ride on, weather permitting. The Broadway, Broadstairs, CT10 2AB; Friday - Sunday + Bank holidays (high season); 2pm-4.30pm; cramptontower.co.uk
Quench Gallery
Co-founded by sculptor Lindsey Mendick during the pandemic, Quench is a space for emerging and early career artists to experiment and develop and present new work. Programming focuses on LGBTQ+, global majority and working class artists. Viking House, Cliftonville Avenue, Margate, CT9 2AH; Friday - Sunday 12pm-6pm; quenchgallery.co.uk
